Posted!

Join the Conversation

Comments

Welcome to our new and improved comments, which are for subscribers only.
This is a test to see whether we can improve the experience for you.
You do not need a Facebook profile to participate.

You will need to register before adding a comment.
Typed comments will be lost if you are not logged in.

Please be polite.
It's OK to disagree with someone's ideas, but personal attacks, insults, threats, hate speech, advocating violence and other violations can result in a ban.
If you see comments in violation of our community guidelines, please report them.

“Please, no one resort to violence on anyone because of this. I expected it would come out this way. (Police) were too trigger happy. It hurts. I can visit (Demarcus') grave, but his spirit is not there. I can’t have a conversation with him."

— Elijah Smith, of Fort Pierce, grandfather of Demarcus Semer

“I’m going to propose legislation to do away with the grand jury system. There needs to be more transparency. That is part of the problem. There is so much distrust of the system because it does not allow anyone to know what was presented (during the grand jury proceedings). The system needs to change."

— State Rep. Larry Lee Jr. (D), Port St. Lucie

"The No. 1 thing we want to emphasize to the community is violence is not the way to go. Protest peacefully."

— The Rev. Ned Childress, Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, Fort Pierce

"We denounce all killing in our community, including black-on-black crime. There's too much to live for and too much valuable life lost when we're killing one another."

"I ask anyone to put aside race. If this was your son or daughter, how would you feel?”

— The Rev. John Lee Sr., president of Concerned Citizens of St. Lucie County

"I wish they were in my shoes. I wish that was their child. Maybe they would have a difference of opinion. It’s saying that it’s OK to kill, and it’s not fair at all. I can’t never see my son anymore. He turned 22 yesterday."

— LaTrecia Middleton, mother of Demarcus Semer, from Fort Pierce

"I don't feel protected by the police when I'm driving at 10 p.m. I don't feel justice. I feel like I'm looked at as the enemy."